Rayon Sports Volleyball Club have released three of their senior players, just days before the new season starts, club officials have confirmed to Times Sport.

The three players, who have been let to go include Guillaume Irakarama (middle-blocker), Eugene Tuyishime (setter) and Emile ‘Dada’ Karera (libero). The 2016 season is scheduled to kick-off on February 20.

But as soon as the players left, APR wasted no time to snap up both Irakarama and Karera on a one-year contract while Tuyishime moved to reigning league champions INATEK also on a one-season deal.

Rayon Sports coach Fidele Nyirimana confirmed the trio’s departure, which he acknowledged as a big blow, but insisted it won’t affect the club’s ambitions in the coming season. The three were all out of contract.

"I can confirm the three players are no longer with us, two went to APR while one is at INATEK, the club can only wish them well in their future endeavors. It is a huge blow but the team is in good shape ahead of the new season,” Nyirimana told this paper on Thursday.

He also noted, "We are in the process of signing replacements but we can’t reveal names now, in the next two to three days, we will officially announce our new players.”

The trio joined the club when it was formed in late 2013 and have been an integral part of the team in the last two seasons, helping the side to finish second twice in the national league, winning the Genocide Memorial Tournament twice in 2014 and 2015 as well as claiming Carre d’As tournament last year.

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